James A. Riverso, 29, of 366 Craigie St., Syracuse, pleaded guilty before state Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti to three felony counts of first-degree disseminating indecent matieral to a minor.

He will be sentenced July 9 to 10 years' probation with the first six months to be served in the Onondaga County Correctional Facility in Jamesville.

Riverso also will be required to register as a convicted sex offender under the state's sex offender registry act. As part of the plea deal, Riverso will not face any federal charges.

Should federal officials decide to file charges, Riverso will be allowed to vacate the plea entered today, Brunetti said.

In pleading guilty, Riverso admitted sending sexually explicit messages to the girls between July and December 2008. The plea deal satisfies a variety of related charges pending in Syracuse, Onondaga, Elbridge, Baldwinsville, Marcellus and Manlius, according to defense lawyer Emil Rossi.

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Barry said Riverso had been facing 16 counts of disseminating indecent material to a minor, 20 counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of third-degree sexual abuse. All those charges were satisfied by the guilty plea to the three felony charges, he said.

Riverso could have faced up to seven years in state prison on each of the disseminating charges, the prosecutor said.

Riverso was first arrested last May 26 by Baldwinsville police and accused of sending sexually explicit text messages to a 16-year-old girl who once played for him in a youth soccer club. Barry said the girl told her parents about the text messages and the parents contacted police.

Le Moyne placed Riverso on unpaid administrative leave but Riverso then resigned from his college coaching post.

State police became involved in the investigation of Riverso when two more girls came forward with allegations. Authorities then charged Riverso with sending those girls sexually explicit text messages and with meeting them at various locations in his car where he was accused of touching them for his sexual pleasure.

There was no admission of any sexual contact by Riverso in his guilty plea this morning.

A group of spectators who appeared to be with victims and in support of victims was in court for Riverso's guilty plea today. They left court without comment immediately after the plea was entered.

At the prosecution's request, Brunetti said there would be orders of protection signed directing Riverso to have no contact with the three victims.

Authorities have never linked any of the allegations against Riverso to conduct involving members of the Le Moyne College team he coached, Barry said.

After pleading guilty, Riverso left court with Rossi and lawyer Kim Zimmer. He had no comment, but Rossi said Riverso had admitted his responsibility, was doing what was necessary for rehabilitation and was "completely remorseful."